Now my only problem is that I am trying to decide on the video card...I'd love to go crazy and get Nvidia 590, but it is just way too expensive at the moment. However, I am not deciding going for the 570 or 580 or if anyone has any thoughts on any other cards please feel free to let me know! By the way any question or anything better that I am missing please let me know!

Standard questions such as what do you plan on playing and what do you currently play?
What power supply (unless I missed it)? 580+'s need mad power. I have 2 x gtx 580s with a 1200w power supply just in case lol

Well I plan on playing everything new on max settings like BF3 and Skyrim and whatever else may come about! Just don't about power supply because I am unsure of what video card...I am leaning towards Crossfire 6970s but it seems like its going to be crazy expensive. Really just look to spend $500 or less.

You're overestimating the power needs. 2x580's can be run on 750w... a single can be run on 550w. That's including potential overclocks.

Well of course, 6970's are comparable in price and performance to 570's not 580's silly :P

You're underestimating the power needs. Of course they CAN be run on a 750w, but you shouldn't. Overclocked 580s? No way should you be using a 750. At that point you should be picking up a 1000w+. The absolute lowest you should be running 2x580s (non-oc) on is an 850, but it would be terribly inefficient. Each card can peak at 275-300w and the i7 around 125w. That gets you to 675-725 pretty quickly. Add in the rest of the computer and you are maxing+ your 750 or having a poorly running 850.

Considering power supplies run most efficiently in the 50-70% range, you'd be crazy to get anything less than a 1000w.

You're underestimating the power needs. Of course they CAN be run on a 750w, but you shouldn't. Overclocked 580s? No way should you be using a 750. At that point you should be picking up a 1000w+. The absolute lowest you should be running 2x580s (non-oc) on is an 850, but it would be terribly inefficient. Each card can peak at 275-300w and the i7 around 125w. That gets you to 675-725 pretty quickly. Add in the rest of the computer and you are maxing+ your 750 or having a poorly running 850.

Considering power supplies run most efficiently in the 50-70% range, you'd be crazy to get anything less than a 1000w.

580's peak at 250w when not overclocked... and an i7-2600k peaks at 100w when not overclocked. That's 600w. A 750w psu leaves 150w for overclocking and/or buffer zone, which is plenty. Bumping it to 850w would be better for the extra buffer zone, but 1000w is way overkill.

If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the Mighty One... now I am become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds.

580's peak at 250w when not overclocked... and an i7-2600k peaks at 100w when not overclocked. That's 600w. A 750w psu leaves 150w for overclocking and/or buffer zone, which is plenty. Bumping it to 850w would be better for the extra buffer zone, but 1000w is way overkill.

Wow, your peak numbers are quite a bit off, but it looks like you are simply trusting the manufacturers as opposed to reading independent tests. It's time to read up a bit. Again, as I said power supplies run most efficiently at 50-70% off their max wattage. 600 of 750 is 80%, and you haven't taken into consideration the rest of the components. 600 of 850 is 70.5%, but again that's just three items. You'd probably be ok, but it's pushing it. Common sense says if you are running two 580s and an i7, you'd better be getting a 1000 watt psu. Base your decisions around the manufacturer's numbers if you want, but it will only lead to trouble.

But let's use the actual numbers for these items...580s can hit 350+ peak and the i7 will hit 125. There are several websites that have tested power consumption and all hit about the same. That's 825 without any overclocking. So again, let's step back and apply a bit of common sense here. If three items can hit 800+ at peak, would you buy a power supply that can't even provide that much power?

Wow, your peak numbers are quite a bit off, but it looks like you are simply trusting the manufacturers as opposed to reading independent tests. It's time to read up a bit. Again, as I said power supplies run most efficiently at 50-70% off their max wattage. 600 of 750 is 80%, and you haven't taken into consideration the rest of the components. 600 of 850 is 70.5%, but again that's just three items. You'd probably be ok, but it's pushing it. Common sense says if you are running two 580s and an i7, you'd better be getting a 1000 watt psu. Base your decisions around the manufacturer's numbers if you want, but it will only lead to trouble.

But let's use the actual numbers for these items...580s can hit 350+ peak and the i7 will hit 125. There are several websites that have tested power consumption and all hit about the same. That's 825 without any overclocking. So again, let's step back and apply a bit of common sense here. If three items can hit 800+ at peak, would you buy a power supply that can't even provide that much power?

The nvidia/amd/intel TDP ratings are accurate for stock settings.
Wherever you're getting your numbers from is wrong.
Mind linking one of these 3rd party tests that you're basing your information off of?
350+ doesn't even seem possible... especially considering the pci-e specification only allows a maximum of 300w (75 from the pci-e socket itself, 75 from the 6-pin power connector, and 150 from the 8-pin power connector).

Last edited by taekvideo; 2011-10-21 at 10:36 PM.

If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the Mighty One... now I am become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds.